Garment-stretcher.



No. 695,924. Patented Mar; 25, I992.

W. J. GROTENHUIS.

GARMENT STRETCHER.

[Applicatiqn filed Apr. 20, 1001.)

(No Model.)

.IllillU il A QFFI Q WILLIAM J. GROTENIIUIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GARMENT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 695,924, dated March. 25, 1902.

Application filed April 20, 1901. Serial No. 56,680- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. GnorEN- HUIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Trousers-Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of trousers-hangers that is adapted to maintain the usual crease in the trousers-legs while holding them in a suspended position, and has particular relation to the means by which the trousers are grasped.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient trousers-hanger.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a trousers-hanger with an extensible bar to assist in maintaining the usual crease, each end of the bar being provided with indep endent clamping mechanism.

The invention consists principally in the combination of an extensible supporting-bar, means for holding it in its extended condition, and mechanism at each end of the bar for grasping the trousers-legs.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of an extensible supporting bar made in two sections telescopically fitted together, means for holding such bar in its extended condition, and clamping mechanism at each end of the bar for grasping the trousers.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trousers-hanger constructed in accordance with these improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same looking at it from below and showing in sectional View a pair of trousers-legs in engagement therewith; Fig 3, a longitudinal sectional View of the trousers-hanger, showing a portion of a pair of trousers as they appear in suspended position; and Fig. l, an elevation of the hanger.

In the art to which'this invention relates it is well known that trousers-hangers which are arranged to hold the trousers in suspended position by the leg portions and preserve the crease have largely replaced all other kinds of hangers but it is also well known that this particular kind of hanger being generally made of two clamping-jaws has some objections, in. that the clamping-jaws when made of metal are liable to rust the trousers and when made of wide pieces of wood are apt to cause awrinkle to appear at that portion at which it is clamped. This invention, therefore, is intended primarily to provide a trousers-hanger of such construction and arrangement as will obviate the above-noted objections,\tend to maintain the usual crease, and at the same time prevent the wrinkling of the legs of the trousers, all of .1

which will more fully hereinafter appear.

I11 constructing a trousers-hanger in accordance with these improvements I make what I prefer to term a supporting-bar, which can be made in two or more pieces telescopically fitted together; but I prefer to make it of two wooden pieces a and b, one of which has rigidly secured thereto a cylindrical shell 0, in which the other partb is telescopicallyand movably fitted. It is desirable to provide means by which this extensible supporting.- bar may be kept in its extended condition, so that by the mechanism hereinafterdescribed the legs of the trousers may be kept freefrom wrinkles and the usual crease maintained in an efficient manner. Many methods may be used for the purpose of holding this bar in its extendedcondition, but I prefer to use a helical spring d, which is inserted inside of the shell 0 and between the inner ends of the two portions of the extensible bar, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. This spring tends to hold the parts normally in their extended condition and permits them to be collapsed whenever desirable or necessary, though it will be readily seen that the helical spring can be dispensed with and an ordinary setscrew provided, which, however, would not be as efficient in operation. To provide means for grasping the trousers-legs, prevent wrinkling, and assist in maintaining the usual crease, each end of the bar is provided with a pair of pins e, preferably covered with rubber or some fabric that will prevent the rust of the trousers. These pins are so arranged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as to be within the trousers and at that point adjacent to the crease, so that when the bar is extended they smooth out all the wrinkles and maintain the crease. A clamping-block f is provided and suspended from each end of the supportingbar by means of the links g and outside of the holding-pins. A cam-lever h is provided which may be raised to the position shown in Fig. .1, so as to permit the helical springs 2' (shown in Fig. 3) to throw the blocks outwardly and when dropped to the position shown in Fig. 3 will press the clamping-blocks inwardly andlock the trousers-legs in engagement with the holding-pins. These cam-levers are preferably mounted upon springplates j, which act to hold them with the desired amount of tension in engagement with the clamping-blocks. These clamping blocks are also grooved on their inner surfaces, as

shown particularly in Fig. 2, so as to follow the contour of the pins and trousers for a short distance, and thus more effectually hold the parts in operative position.

For the purpose of holding the trousershanger in any desired position a wire hook it is provided, bifurcated at its lower edge, which engages with perforations in the shell c,in which it is pivotally secured. This hook may be used to support the suspended trousers-hanger on any hook, as may be found desirable or necessary.

As above suggested, one of the sections of the supporting-bar is immovably connected with the shell portion preferably by driving it into tight-fit'engagement therewith, while the other is movably engaged. In order to permit this movable engagement, the shell is slotted, as shown at m in Fig. 1, so as to permit a screw 71 to pass through the same and limitthe longitudinal and rotary movements of the section of the bar, all of which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

I claim- 1. In atrousers-hanger of the class described, the combination of an extensible supportingbar, means for holding the bar in its extended condition, and clamping mechanism at each end of the bar for grasping the trouserslegs, substantially as described.

2. In atrousers-hanger of the class described, the combination of an extensible supportingbar made in two sections telescopically fitted together, means for holding the bar in its extended condition, and clamping mechanism at each end ofthebar for grasping the trouserslegs, substantially as described.

3. In atrousers-hanger of the class described, an extensible supporting-bar, means for holding the bar in its extended condition, a pair of pins at each end of the bar adapted to be inserted within the trousers-legs, and means for clamping the trousers-legs against the pins, substantially as described.

at. In atrousers-hanger of the class described, the combination of an extensible supportingbar made in at least two sections telescopically fitted together, a spring for holding the bar in its extended condition, a pair of pins arranged at each end of the bar and adapted to be inserted within the trousers-legs, and a clamping-block for grasping the trousers-legs between it and the pair of pins, substantially as described.

5. In atrousers-hanger of the class described, the combination of an extensible bar made in two sections, a shell secured to one section and in which the other is slidingly mounted, a helical spring for holding the sections of the supporting-bar in their extended condition, a pair of pins at each end of the bar and adapted to be inserted within the trousers-legs, a clamping-block outside of each pair of pins for grasping the trousers between it and the pins, and lever mechanism for locking and unlocking the clamping-block, substantially as described.

6. In a trousers-hanger of the class described, the combination of an extensible supportingbar made in at least two sections, a shell in which both of such sections is mounted and in which one is slidingly mounted, a helical spring between such sections to hold them in their extended condition, a pair of pins at each end of the supporting-bar adapted to be inserted within the trousers-legs for separating the same, a clamping-block outside of each pair of pins for grasping the trousers-legs between it and the pins, spring mechanism for throwing the clamping-blocks outwardly away from the pins, and lever mechanism socured to the bar for operating the clampingblocks, substantially as described.

WILLIAM J. GROTENHUIS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, HARRY IRWIN CROMER. 

